AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE LITERACY COORDINATING COUNCIL BY AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7165, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS "AN ACT CREATING THE LITERACY COORDINATING COUNCIL, DEFINING ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Fourteenth Congress

Third Regular Session

Begun and held in Metro Manila, on Monday, the twenty-seventh day of July, two thousand nine.

REPUBLIC ACT No. 10122

AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE LITERACY COORDINATING COUNCIL BY AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7165, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS "AN ACT CREATING THE LITERACY COORDINATING COUNCIL, DEFINING ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES".

Be it enacted by the Senate and, House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1. Republic Act No. 7165 IS hereby amended as follows:

Section 2. All laws, executive orders, presidential decrees, and other issuance's or parts thereof Inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 3. If any part, section or provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional, the other parts, sections or provisions hereof not affected thereby shall remain in force and in effect.

Section 4. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after completion of its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,

This Act which is a consolidation of Senate Bill No. 3573 and House Bill No. 6439 was finally passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives on February 1. 2010 and February 3, 2010, respectively.

Approved: May 27, 2010

(Sgd.) GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO
President of the Philippines

"SECTION l. It is hereby declared to be the policy of the State to give the highest priority to the adoption of measures for the universalization of literacy.

"Toward this end, it shall encourage and rationalize the formulation of policies and the implementation of programs on nonformal, informal, and indigenous learning systems, as well as self-learning, independent, and out-of-school study programs particularly those that respond to community needs.

"The State shall institutionalize an interagency coordinating and advisory body to synchronize and strengthen policies and efforts toward the universalization of literacy."

"SEC. 2. To carry out the declared national policy, there is hereby created a Literacy Coordinating Council, hereinafter referred to as the Council, which shall be an inter-agency body administratively attached to the Department of Education".

"SEC. 3. The Council shall be composed of the following members:

"The Council shall approve and confirm the appointment of the NGO representative, who shall serve for a period of three (3) years, and who may be reappointed for another term.

"The Council shall meet regularly and may hold special meetings to consider urgent matters upon the call of the Chairperson or any five (5) Council members,"

"SEC. 4. The duly designated representatives to the Literacy Coordinating Council shall be afforded equal opportunity to vote and participate in any deliberation during meetings of the Council.

"Likewise, they shall be afforded, whenever necessary, reimbursement of any actual expenses incurred during council-related functions and duties, subject to the provisions of existing law and/or pertinent rules and regulations."

"SEC. 5. The Council shall have the following powers and functions:

"SEC. 6. The Council shall organize a secretariat to be headed by a Chief of Office. The Council shall determine the secretariat's staffing pattern, qualifications, duties, responsibilities and functions as well as the compensation for the positions to be created subject to the National Compensation and Classification Plan and other existing civil service rules and regulations.

"The existing secretariat of the Council shall continue to serve in their present position and shall be extended permanent status subject to existing civil service rules and regulations.

"The amount necessary for the payment of employees' salaries, benefits and other emoluments shall be taken from the annual appropriations of the Council: Provided, That such obligations shall not exceed forty per centum (40%) of Its total annual appropriations.

"SEC. 7. The sum of Twenty million pesos (Php20,000,000.00) is hereby authorized to be appropriated, out of any funds In the National Treasury not other wise appropriated, to carry out the functions of the Council under this Act. Thereafter, the sum needed for the operation and maintenance of the Council shall be included in the annual budget of the DepED.

"The Council shall submit to Congress an annual report which shall include, among other things, policy recommendations which require legislative action towards the total eradication of illiteracy."

"SEC. 8. The Council, in consultation with the appropriate national government agencies, shall promulgate the implementing rules and regulations within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act,"